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Prospective evaluation of implants connected to teeth.
Michael S Block1, Denise Lirette, Diana Gardiner
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Louisiana State University, School of Dentistry, New Orleans 70119, USA. mblock@lsuhsc.edu
The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants
|August 17, 2002
Summary
Connecting dental implants to teeth rigidly or non-rigidly showed similar implant survival rates. However, tooth intrusion and increased unscheduled visits suggest considering alternatives to tooth-implant connections.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Prosthodontics
- Periodontology
Background:
- Fixed partial dentures (FPDs) can be restored using implants or natural teeth as abutments.
- Cross-arch connections between implants and teeth are a treatment option, but their long-term effects require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical outcomes of rigidly versus non-rigidly connecting implants to abutment teeth in a cross-arch model.
- To assess crestal bone loss, tooth and implant mobility, probing depths, soft tissue indices, and intrusion over a minimum 5-year follow-up period.
Main Methods:
- A prospective clinical trial involving 30 patients restored with 3-unit FPDs, connecting either rigidly or non-rigidly to a mandibular abutment tooth.
- Long-term follow-up (≥5 years) included assessments of bone levels, mobility, probing depth, soft tissue health, and intrusion.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in crestal bone loss or mobility were observed between rigid and non-rigid implant-tooth connections.
- Teeth connected to implants showed significant differences between methods, with higher rates of intrusion and fractures in the non-rigid group.
- The non-rigid group required more unscheduled visits, and implant survival was comparable between groups, though one rigid-side implant was removed.
Conclusions:
- While both rigid and non-rigid attachments demonstrated acceptable implant survival, significant issues arose with abutment teeth, particularly intrusion and fractures.
- The high incidence of complications suggests that alternative treatment modalities, avoiding direct connections between implants and teeth, may be more favorable.